Share this page!

Enter URL or ID to Unroll

You can paste full URL like: https://x.com/threadreaderapp/status/1644127596119195649
or just the ID like: 1644127596119195649

How to get URL link on X (Twitter) App

  1. On the Twitter thread, click on or icon on the bottom
  2. Click again on or Share Via icon
  3. Click on Copy Link to Tweet
  4. Paste it above and click "Unroll Thread"!
  5. More info at Twitter Help
Judd Legum Profile picture
@JuddLegum
Nov 29, 2023 • 11 tweets • 4 min read • Read on X
Scrolly
1. Earlier this month, a mysterious woman appeared before a school board in Texas and claimed that, when she was 11, she READ A SCHOLASTIC BOOK THAT SPARKED A DEBILITATING PORN ADDICTION.

We investigated.

And it's ABSOLUTELY WILD what is happening.

🧵 Image
2. The woman was 20-year-old Lanah Burkhardt.

Burkhardt said after reading a Scholastic book that depicted a "single kiss," she "looked for other books that gave me pleasure." This "led to internet searches" that she will "never forget."

popular.info/p/mysterious-w…
3. Burkhardt cited her story as a reason to restrict access to Drama, a novel published by Scholastic. The book includes this image of two people kissing: Image
4. But Burkhardt went further, arguing that Conroe should remove all Scholastic books from schools and stop hosting Scholastic book fairs.

According to Burkhardt, "getting rid of Scholastic books and their book fairs will inevitably protect kids."

popular.info/p/mysterious-w…
4. Burkhardt's appearance was promoted by SkyTree Book Fairs, a newly formed organization marketing itself as "an alternative to the sexually explicit content distributed in Scholastic's book fairs." Image
5. SkyTree Book Fairs presents itself as an independent non-profit. But it appears to be a hastily assembled offshoot of Brave Books, which publishes children's books by right-wing pundits

The president of SkyTree Book Fairs was recently an "Executive Assistant" at Brave Books Image
6. Burkhardt's appearance at the Conroe school board was also promoted by Brave Books. The company called it a "must watch" and a "powerful message that needs to be heard."

popular.info/p/mysterious-w…
7. Neither Brave Books nor Burkhardt disclosed that Burkhardt is an employee of Brave Books. According to her LinkedIn profile, Burkhardt is the company's "public relations coordinator." Image
8. The Conroe school board, after listening to Burkhardt's story, voted to restrict access to Drama from all students in the 8th grade and below. One of the school board members, Melissa Dungan, suggested replacing Scholastic with SkyTree Book Fairs. Image
9. More on Brave Books/SkyTree and their scheme to replace Scholastic with kids' books written by right-wing Pizzagate conspiracy theorists in today's newsletter

popular.info/p/mysterious-w…
10. For UPDATES and more accountability journalism, subscribe to Popular Information.

It's free to sign up.

popular.info/subscribe

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
　

Keep Current with Judd Legum

Judd Legum Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @JuddLegum

Judd Legum Profile picture
Jun 13
1. Progressive Champions PAC, a super PAC created last month, says on its website that its mission is to “elect bold, progressive candidates up and down the ballot.”

A Popular Information investigaiton reveals that it's a GOP front group.

Following along for receipts.

🧵
2. Progressive Champions just booked 400K in ads attacking Cait Conley, a Dem candidate in New York’s 17th District competing in the June 23 primary. The ads claim that Conley is “not progressive" and tie her to Trump.

popular.info/p/progressive-…
3. Popular Information previously reported that Real Change PAC, another sham progressive PAC, sent a message to supporters from a email address — the domain of a GOP comms shop and top vendor of the CLF, the House Republican super PAC.cavalryllc.com
Read 8 tweets
Judd Legum Profile picture
Jun 4
1. Don't believe the headlines.

Trump's $1.776 billion slush fund is not "dead."

The Trump administration wants to the public to believe it's dead.

But their ACTIONS tell a very different story.
2. Here is the key point: The settlement that created the $1.766 billion "anti-weaponization" fund is a WRITTEN DOCUMENT.

It says explicitly that it "may be modified only with the written agreement of the Parties.”

popular.info/p/no-trumps-17…
3. In his testimony before a House committee, however, AG Blanche said that there would be NO WRITTEN MODIFICATIONS to the settlement and that he would continue to defend it in court.
Read 7 tweets
Judd Legum Profile picture
Jun 3
1. For the SECOND TIME IN SIX MONTHS, a foreign real estate development led by Jared Kushner has been derailed by a GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION SCANDAL and mass protests.

Follow along for all the gory details.

🧵
2. Jared and Ivanka are developing a $4 billion resort centered around an uninhabited island in Albania.

The massive project, which includes 10,000 hotel rooms, is located in one of Europe’s most environmentally sensitive areas.

popular.info/p/kushners-alb…
3. In 2024, the Albanian government changed the law to allow the area, which was previously part of a protected national park, to be developed.

Then shortly after Trump's election, Kushner, through an LLC, was granted “strategic investor“ status, clearing the way for permits.
Read 10 tweets
Judd Legum Profile picture
Jun 2
1. Real Change PAC, a super PAC that purports to be "committed to progressive values," has spent millions of dollars in Democratic primaries.

It is actually a Republican front closely tied to House Republican leadership.

An email completely exposed the dirty tricks operation. Image
2. When you registered for the Real Change PAC email list on its website, the confirmation email came from a Cavalry LLC domain. Cavalry one of DC’s premier GOP communications shops.

popular.info/p/update-email…
3. According to FEC filings analyzed by Popular Information, the CLF -- the primary super PAC of the House Republicans -- spent over $10 million in the 2024 cycle buying digital ads through Cavalry.
Read 6 tweets
Judd Legum Profile picture
May 29
1. A Popular Information reveals that two more "progressive" super PACs are linked to House Republicans and Speaker Mike Johnson.

They've worked pretty hard to cover their tracks, but not quite hard enough.

Follow along for details.
2. One PAC that has raised suspicions is California Blue

It is registered at 3571 Far West Boulevard, a mailbox store in Austin, Texas

Of the 5.5K committees registered this cycle, only one other used this address

popular.info/p/two-progress…
3. The treasurer of that PAC, Stop Talarico, is Lisa Lisker, Mike Johnson's campaign treasurer.

Lisker also is the treasurer of Grow the Majority, one of the joint fundraising committees for the CFL, the House Republican super PAC. Image
Read 8 tweets
Judd Legum Profile picture
May 27
1. Lead Left, a super PAC created on 4/24, purports to stand "against MAGA extremists."

It has spent $3M+ in Democratic primaries.

But it's funders and motivations have been secret.

Until now.

It's a GOP dirty tricks operation.

🧵
2. Popular Information found that Lead Left is linked to Caleb Crosby, a Republican operative. Crosby is the treasurer of the Congressional Leadership Fund (CLF), the primary super PAC of the House GOP.

popular.info/p/a-gop-dirty-…
3. Lead Left's spending has been unusual.

In Texas, Lead Left spent 900K supporting Maureen Galindo in the Democratic House primary. Galindo, a sex therapist, pledged to turn an ICE detention facility a “prison for American Zionists.”

Her campaign less than 11K. (She lost last night.)
Read 10 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!

This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Don't want to be a Premium member but still want to support us?

Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal

Or Donate anonymously using crypto!

Ethereum

0xfe58350B80634f60Fa6Dc149a72b4DFbc17D341E copy

Bitcoin

3ATGMxNzCUFzxpMCHL5sWSt4DVtS8UqXpi copy

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us!

Send Email!

:(